ST ALBANS CITY’S five-match unbeaten league run came to an end away at promotion rivals St Neots Town on Saturday.

The two sides share the same nickname, The Saints, and it was the hosts who took all three points with a 3-2 triumph.

Lewis Toomey and Sean Shields had early chances for City, and it was Toomey who struck to put the visitors ahead in the 22nd minute with his 10th goal of the season.

City looked strong at the back in the opening period with James Gray partnering Danny Gordon at the heart of the defence.

St Neots felt Ollie Thorne should have been awarded a penalty soon after, however the referee ignored their protests.

They then threatened City keeper Nick Jupp’s goal, however Lewis Hilliard’s surprise 30-yard shot went just wide.

City went close to doubling their lead as Barry Hayles played Toomey through, the St Albans striker rounded stopper Michael Duggan but was unable to hit his attempt on target.

St Neots looked to level and a Davies shot was saved at full stretch by Jupp before Ben Mackey had a snap shot blocked by a defender.

Town equalised when a through ball from Ben Mackey fed Thorne and his angled drive found the net just before the break.

Duggan had to make two saves early on in the second half when Shields and Micah Hyde both tried their luck.

But it was St Neots who took the lead when former Aston Villa and QPR forward Stefan Moore finished off an excellent move which involved Dan Jacob and Hilliard.

Moore almost scored again but his audacious lob was just too high and Jupp was forced to make the save of the match to stop a Mackey shot.

St Neots defender Jon-Paul Duncliffe left the pitch with a rib injury in the 62nd minute and it was his replacement, Yusuff, who scored the goal of the game in the 78th, a left-footed strike from just inside the box, before leaving the pitch himself in the 81st.

It had been quite a cameo.

There was a penalty shout when Moore was brought down late on, before Shields made it 3-2 with a superb strike in the 88th minute.

There almost time for an equaliser, but Duggan pulled off a late-ditch save to deny St Albans substitute Chris Henry.

The Saints are without a fixture this weekend as it is reserved for FA Trophy games, a competition which City exited to Arlesey Town.

City return to action on November 3 away at AFC Totton.